Melville, Well, even your question suggests you have the capability and insight to generate an organized thought of importance. Instructional effectiveness is a topic beyond the scope of this forum. However, I can share that I start with reviewing and trying to understanding the purpose of the topic. The course description is helpful for that. I also look at course objectives, since your students will also be looking at them for clues about the depth and nature of your discussion topics. Next, your course objectives should lead to a list natural daily objectives that a student studying this topic should master, or at least understand. That's the framework. Next are planning the delivery methods, resources to be used, activities that reinforce the learning, etc. Of course, there will be practice through reading and homework assignments, along planning for assessment of learning (quizzes, tests). This would be a good start, and I hope this has been helpful, and not too elementary. Barry Westling